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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Mar 18, 2010 - 5:39:57 PM |
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Iraqi Police, Army, CF hit bullseye in friendly marksmanship competition
By Sgt. Angie Johnston, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - North PAO
May 6, 2009 - 8:24:48 PM
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Blackanthem Military News
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| Sgt. Jerry Agonoy of Co. A, Special Troops Bn., 3rd Inf. Bde. Combat Team, 25th Inf. Div., explains the fundamentals of Basic Rifle Marksmanship to a Sons of Iraq member April 19. Soldiers from Co. A coached and competed in a shooting tournament with SoI and members of the Iraqi army and Iraqi police to help strengthen relationships which will last long after Coalition Forces leave the country in 2011. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Angie Johnston, Special Troops Bn., 3rd Inf. Bde. Combat Team, 25th Inf. Div. Public Affairs.) |
FORWARD OPERATING BASE BERNSTEIN, TUZ, Iraq - Everyone was shooting, but no one was hurt when the Iraqi Army, Iraqi Police, the Sons of Iraq and Coalition Forces fired AK-47s, M4 carbines, and Glock 9mm pistols together in a friendly shooting tournament here April 19.
The event, hosted by Company A, Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, helped the three groups strenghten relationships which will last long after Coalition Forces leave the country in 2011.
"This is a lot of fun," said Pvt. 1st Class Devin Nehring, a Co. A Soldier on his first deployment. "Shooting the AK-47 was really exciting, and they (the IA) have one guy out there who's cash money - he's hitting everything."
"Some people are natural marksmen," said Khalid Shwan Ibrahim, a Sons of Iraq member who competed against some of the best the Salah ad-Din Province has to offer.
Halfway through the day, Soldiers from Co. A fired up a grill and started grilling traditional American barbeque fare for all the competitors.
"This food is very good," said Mowlud Shakour, one of the Sons of Iraq's top competitors. "The men on the grill are talented, because they can cook and be Soldiers at the same time," he quipped.
The competition was a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs, and each group took the lead at least once during the full-day event. After each iteration, scores were posted as eager competitors looked on. There were pats on the back and pep talks between each episode as the marksmen prepared to shoot again.
Spc. Mostafa El Saka, a linguist, was impressed by the accuracy with which the ISF shot. "If you look at the results, the Sons of Iraq are doing the best right now. For people who don't get many opportunities to practice shooting, they're all doing very well."
Sgt. Shaun Maynard, who was one of the scorekeepers throughout the competition, was excited to watch new friendships blossom as the ISF members both teased and congratulated one another.
"This is a nice little get-together," said Maynard. "We're getting to interact with the ISF; we get to see how they are when they're having fun instead of being all business."
During the last event, the Suleyman Bek police department catapulted into the lead; although they had no experience with the Americans' M4 carbines, U.S. Soldiers coached them all the way to first place.
Immediately after the final event, Lt. Col. Chris Stenman, who commands the Special Troops Bn., handed out certificates to the event's top shooters and gave a short speech to the group.
"I'd like to invite you all to come do this again," said Stenman. "We've started something today that should become a tradition, and I'm very impressed with both the results and your professionalism as Iraqi Security Forces."
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
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| Iraqi soldiers, police and members of the U.S. Army take a break for lunch during a marksmanship competition with Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces at FOB Bernstein April 19. The event was sponsored by Co. A, Special Troops Bn., 3rd Inf. Bde. Combat Team, 25th Inf. Div., to strengthen relationships that will last long after Coalition Forces depart Iraq in 2011. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Angie Johnston, Special Troops Bn., 3rd Inf. Bde. Combat Team, 25th Inf. Div. Public Affairs.) |
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| Shaykh Husayn Awad Khalaf hands a celebratory cigar to an Iraqi policeman at a marksmanship competition with Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces at FOB Bernstein April 19. The event was sponsored by Co. A, Special Troops Bn., 3rd Inf. Bde. Combat Team, 25th Inf. Div., to strengthen relationships that will last long after Coalition Forces depart Iraq in 2011. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Angie Johnston, Special Troops Bn., 3rd Inf. Bde. Combat Team, 25th Inf. Div. Public Affairs.) |
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| Lt. Col. Mark Merlino posts the results of a marksmanship competition between ISF and Coalition Forces April 19 as some of the shooters look on. The event was sponsored by Co. A, Special Troops Bn., 3rd Inf. Bde. Combat Team, 25th Inf. Div., to strengthen relationships that will last long after Coalition Forces depart Iraq in 2011. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Angie Johnston, Special Troops Bn., 3rd Inf. Bde. Combat Team, 25th Inf. Div. Public Affairs.) |
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| Amerli Police Chief Sabah Safar Khalif fires his AK-47 rifle during a marksmanship competition between Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces at FOB Bernstein April 19. The event was sponsored by Co. A, Special Troops Bn., 3rd Inf. Bde. Combat Team, 25th Inf. Div., to strengthen relationships that will last long after Coalition Forces depart Iraq in 2011. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Angie Johnston, Special Troops Bn., 3rd Inf. Bde. Combat Team, 25th Inf. Div. Public Affairs.) |
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| Suleyman Bek Police Chief Col. Salah Mohammad Ishmael fires his AK-47 rifle during a marksmanship competition between Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces at FOB Bernstein April 19. The event was sponsored by Co. A, Special Troops Bn., 3rd Inf. Bde. Combat Team, 25th Inf. Div., to strengthen relationships that will last long after Coalition Forces depart Iraq in 2011. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Angie Johnston, Special Troops Bn., 3rd Inf. Bde. Combat Team, 25th Inf. Div. Public Affairs.) |
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Dan Southard, SFC (RET)
08 May 2009, 10:39
The spirit of marksmanship competition has formed many bonds in militray
life. I remember the matches in Germany, particularly Berlin between the
the Berlin Bde and the former members of the Whermacht. I hope that this
level of competition can foster the same spirit of 'warriorship' and
cooperation among equals.
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